U.S. patent number 4,527,563 [Application Number 06/457,447] was granted by the patent office on 1985-07-09 for sterile earlobe piercing assembly.
Invention is credited to Vladimir Reil.
United States Patent |
4,527,563 |
Reil |
July 9, 1985 |
Sterile earlobe piercing assembly
Abstract
An ear stud implacement system that embodies a guntype stud
setting member wherein sterility in high hygiene conditions are
maintained in the piercing of ears and the setting of studs or
posts thereinto in secure relationship with the back clasp or nut
of the stud or post. The improved system utilizes a stud gun having
the components that come in contact with the earlobe and the like,
that are disposable such that germs or even disease are not
transmitted through the stud gun components from one person's ears
to another's. The system allows for implacement of sterile
components and the placement of stud and back in the ear under
sterile conditions not requiring touching of, for example, the stud
and clasp with human hands or the touching of the replaceable
components of the stud gun with human hands thereby decreasing the
risk involved, of one getting their ears pierced, of contracting
hepatitis due to the fact that another's blood may be on the stud
gun components to, quite possibly, infect another during the ear
piercing operation.
Inventors: |
Reil; Vladimir (San Pedro,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23816773 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/457,447 |
Filed: |
January 12, 1983 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/188 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
7/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A44C
7/00 (20060101); A61B 017/34 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/329R,330 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; C. Fred
Assistant Examiner: Shedd; C. W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cislo, O'Reilly & Thomas
Claims
I claim:
1. A sterile stud implacement system comprising the combination: a
pistol-like member having a handle portion and a barrel portion,
said barrel portion carrying a plunger for axial movement from a
first, cocked position to a second, released position and being
operatively connected to a trigger member, said trigger member
having a clasp carrying portion and being positionable in a first,
clasp carrying position and a second, clasp setting position, the
triggering of said trigger member causing said plunger member and
said clasp carrying portion to be forcibly driven towards each
other to engage at an intermediate alignment member operably
associated with said barrel portion the end surface of said plunger
member having a recess receiving a separable and disposable stud
driver wherein said stud driver has an integral construction having
a solid, cylindrical portion adapted to be received in said plunger
member and enlarged, annular flange and an extending, hollow,
cylindrical portion adapted to loosely receive the head of a stud
therein, said clasp carrying portion, intermediate alignment member
and said stud driver being releasably and disposably retained in
operative relationship for singular, sterile, stud and clasp
implacement in an earlobe or the like.
2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said intermediate
alignment member is H-shaped and has a recess for fiction fit
relationship with said barrel portion and has an upwardly extending
tab to be received in said recessed portion.
3. The system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said intermediate
alignment member has a semi-cylindrical cut-out upper portion
adapted to act as an abutment stop for said annular flange of said
stud driver.
4. The system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trigger
member has a terminus with an upwardly extending protuberance and
said clasp carrying portion is fictionally retained in association
with said protuberance.
5. The system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said clasp
carrying portion has a recess of a size and configuration to be
received by said upstanding protuberance and wherein an upwardly
extended portion defines an elongate retaining slot of a size and
configuration to carry a clasp therein.
6. The system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said releasable
and disposable components are fabricated of moldable, sterilizable
plastic.
7. The system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said disposable
components are carried in a carrier which is configured in a manner
that does not require touching said components with the human hand
for association with said pistol-like member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stud guns of the type used for piercing ears and the implacement of
studs or posts in the ear during the same piercing action have been
in ubiquitous use for some time. In the stud gun piercing of ears,
the stud and clasp or back of the stud are typically shot through
the earlobe in singular fashion in an almost painless fashion under
rapid circumstances.
In the ear piercing business many women decide, impulsively, to
have their ears pierced and in jewelry and department stores, a
backup of purchasers of the service requires that the service be
performed as quickly as possible without testing the patience of
the prospective purchaser. Thus, under such conditions, the
operator of the stud gun in piercing the ears does not always
ensure that the stud gun components coming in contact with the ear
during the preceding ear piercing operation has been cleansed of
even microscopic quantities of blood for the subsequent ear
piercing operation.
Consequently, it has not been uncommon for women who have had their
ears pierced to contract hepatitis or other blood related diseases
by reason of the dearth of hygenic conditions under which ear
piercing has been traditionally carried out. The situation has
become serious enough to warrant several governmental bodies
passing laws to protect customers, who wish to have their ears
pierced, from contracting serious diseases such as hepatitis.
The herein disclosed system is one which creates the highest
hygenic, sterile conditions possible in ear piercing short of
having ears pierced by a surgeon under operating room conditions.
That is, the typical components of a stud gun used in ear piercing
and setting of the stud during the ear piercing operation are made
in a manner that they are individually disposable and are
positioned in the stud gun under sterile conditions such that it is
next to impossible to have the transmission of blood diseases, or
the like, through ear piercing. The system also allows for the
sterile placement of the stud and clasp with the stud gun mechanism
so that human hands never contact the salient components of the
stud gun mechanism or the stud and clasp itself. Hence, almost
sterile conditions are maintained during the ear piercing
operation.
In conjunction with the sterile stud implacement system of the
invention is the utilization of studs and clasps that are packaged
in sterile blister packs which are opened at the time of the ear
piercing. Additionally, the disposable components that are used in
the stud gun and are only used with one customer, are also
individually blister packaged under sterile conditions such that
almost absolute sterility is ensured for each customer wishing to
have their ears pierced.
Thus, it is no longer necessary to have several stud guns
undergoing various phases of sterilization or to have conditions
that might foster the transmission of serious diseases during ear
piercing and stud implacement procedures.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a sterile stud
implacement system.
It is another important object of the invention to provide a
sterile stud implacement system wherein a stud gun is used having
disposable components and wherein those disposable components are
assembled into the stud gun under sterile conditions.
It is another, even further, more important object of the invention
to provide an ear piercing system wherein the stud and clasps are
maintained under hygenic conditions and wherein the stud gun has
disposable components which components are replaced for each
piercing operation and wherein human hands never touch the
disposable components.
It is another, even further, more specific, important object of the
invention to provide a stud gun having disposable components such
that almost sterile conditions are assured for each ear piercing
operation.
It is another, even further, specific, more important object of the
invention to provide an ear piercing stud gun wherein certain
components of the gun are assembled thereinto under sterile
conditions and are later discarded after the ear piercing
operation.
It is another, even further, more specific object of the invention
to provide an ear piercing system which is highly hygenic wherein
the stud and clasp are maintained in sterile condition until point
of use and wherein a stud gun has disposable components which are
maintained in sterile conditions until ready to use and wherein
such components are easily assembled into the stud gun without the
need to touch same with the human hand.
It is another, further important object of the invention to provide
an almost sterile ear piercing procedure and system wherein
disposable components of a stud gun are utilized for each customer
wishing to have her ears pierced and wherein those components are
maintained under sterile conditions until ready to use and need not
be touched by the hands of the person doing the ear piercing.
Generally, in an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to
a sterile stud implacement system comprising the combination of a
pistol-like member, having a handle portion and a barrel portion,
said barrel portion carrying a plunger member for axial movement
from a first, cocked position to a second, released position and
being operatively connected to a trigger member wherein the trigger
member has a clasp carrying portion and the trigger member is
positionable in a first, clasp carrying position and a second,
clasp setting position. The triggering of the trigger member causes
said plunger member and said clasp carrying portion to be forcibly
driven towards each other to almost engage at an intermediate
alignment member operatively associated with said barrel portion.
The end surface of the plunger member is provided with a recess to
receive a separable and disposable stud driver. The clasp carrying
portion, intermediate alignment member and the stud driver are
releasably and disposably retained in operative relationship for
singular, sterile stud and clasp implacement in earlobes and the
like.
These and further objects of the invention will become more
apparent from the hereinafter following commentary taken in
conjunction with the figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the stud gun of this
invention readied to receive the disposable components;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the stud gun of this invention not having
the disposable components in place;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the disposable
components in place;
FIG. 4 is an end view of the carrier for the disposable components
which carrier is illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the disposable components of the
sterile stud implacement system of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the stud gun of the invention having the
stud and clasp readied for the ear piercing operation;
FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmented, enlarged, side elevational view
illustrating the disposable components of the stud gun of the
invention;
FIG. 9 is a fragmented view illustrating the blister packaging of
the disposable components of the stud gun of the invention; and
FIG. 10 is a fragmented view illustrating the blister packaging of
the studs and clasps utilized with the sterile stud implacement
system of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED
Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference
designate like elements throughout it will be noted that the stud
gun 2 of the invention is pistol-like in configuration having a
handle portion 4 and a barrel portion 6 carrying a plunger member 8
having an end 10 with recess 12 and having an enlarged head 14 and
axially moveable from a first, uncocked position to a second,
cocked position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The plunger 10 acts
against a spring (not shown) and is operatively connected to a
trigger mechanism 16 the release of which causes plunger 10 to be
driven from the cocked to the uncocked position (right to left as
shown in FIG. 2) as will become apparent as the description
proceeds herein.
The trigger member 16 has an extending portion 18 which moves in an
axial manner best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. That is, when the
plunger member 8 is cocked, the trigger 16 and integral extension
18 moves to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 to uncock or
release the plunger 8 which then moves to the whole line position
as seen in FIG. 2 as will become apparent as the description
proceeds herein. Intermediate the plunger 8 and extending portion
18 which has an extending upwardly protuberance 20 for purposes
which will become apparent, is an intermediate upwardly projecting
tab 22 rigidly secured to the barrel 6. No claim is made to the
stud gun 2, per se, except insofar as the sterile components and
the system of the invention is involved.
The disposable components of the stud gun 2 will now be described
by specific reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. The
first sterile component which is carried, for example, in a carrier
24 is the stud holder 26 having a first, cylindrical extending
portion 28, an annular, enlarged flange 30 and an extending collar
portion 32 of sufficient diameter and depth to receive the head 34
of stud 36 having sharpened point 38. The studs 36 are of
conventional design and manufacture.
The next salient, sterile component of the inventive system is the
alignment member 40 also carried in the carrier 24 in an manner
which allows assemblage with stud gun 2 in a sterile manner as will
become apparent. The alignment member 40 has an upper yoke portion
42 having a semicylindrical, cut-out portion 44 sufficient to allow
clearance for the stud 36 to pass therethrough. The lower portion
46 has a similar semicylindrical cut-out 48 of a diameter equal to
the diameter of extending portion 18 so that there is no
interference with the axial movement of the trigger member 16 with
integral, extending portion 18. A recess or slot 50 is provided in
the underportion 52 of member 40 of a depth and size so as to
receive the upwardly extending tab 22 to thereby maintain the
alignment member 40 in secure, rigid fit relationship
therewith.
The remaining disposable component of the sterile system of the
invention is clasp carrying member 60 having an upwardly projecting
body portion 62 separated by extenuated slot 64 and having between
the upper portions 62 a receiving channel 66 to receive clasp or
stud retainer 68 such that the stud 36 may be driven into retained
relationship with the clasp 68 as will become apparent. The clasp
retaining member 60 has a semicircular, cut-out 69 equivalent in
diameter to the diameter of extending portion 18 and has a slot 70
of a size and depth to accommodate upstanding protuberance 20 in
secured fiction fit and releasable manner.
The components 26, 40 and 60 are of moldable plastic, or the like,
which is sterilizable in blister packages by any of the known
sterilization techniques and is of sufficient rigidity to be able
to withstand impacts involved in the piercing and implacement of
stud and clasp in the sterile system of the invention.
The carrier 24 is of molded plastic and as best seen in FIG. 1 the
disposable stud holder 26 is positioned such that upon being taken
from the sterilized blister package (FIG. 9) it may be associated
with the plunger 10 and more specifically the recess 12 thereof
without being touched by human hands. To insert the components 40
and 60 the carrier 24 is merely rotated 180.degree. and the recess
50 aligned with the upstanding tab 22 and press-fitted into fiction
fit retention so that the component 40 may be removed from the
carrier 24. A similar action is taken with respect to clasp carrier
60 being associated with the protuberance 20.
Referring to FIG. 9 it will be seen that the components 26, 40 and
60 are associated with the carrier 24 in blister pack form which
has been subjected to a previous sterilizing process. Each
individual blister pack 80 houses the carrier 24 with associated
disposable components 26, 40 and 60. Each blister package 80 is
disassociable from the bottom sheet 82 in a manner well known in
the art and the blister packs 80 may comprise any number per sheet
but twelve has been found to be the most ideal. Likewise, the
individual blister packs 90 carrying the studs 36 and retainers 68
are packaged in blister sterlized form on carrier sheet 96, again
preferably twelve to a sheet, such that upon an ear piercing
operation to be performed, almost complete sterility can be
maintained as will now be described.
Upon a customer wishing to have her ears pierced the stud gun 2 as
shown in FIG. 2 is first readied to receive the disposable
components of the invention. The blister pack 80 is opened to allow
removal of one carrier 24 having the disposable components thereon.
The first component to be positioned in the stud gun 2 is the stud
holder 26 which is frictionally retained in the recess 12 of the
plunger 10 in the manner depicted in FIG. 1. Next, the carrier 24
is rotated so as to position the abuttment member 40 over the
upstanding tab 22 for association therewith. Finally, the clasp
retainer 60 is positioned on the protuberance 20. The stud gun 2 is
now in the form illustrated in FIG. 3 readied to receive the stud
and clasp for the ear piercing and stud and clasp association
procedure.
The stud 36 is removed from the sterlized blister pack and the head
34 thereof placed in the stud holder 26 by means of having the gun
held in a slightly upwardly tilted position. The clasp 68 is put in
the channel 66 and the gun 2 is now ready for the first ear
piercing operation. The trigger 16 is pulled thereby bringing the
extending portion 18 with the clasp retainer 60 thereon towards the
plunger 10 to release the same and to drive the plunger 10 towards
the clasp retainer member 60 whereby the plunger member 10
continues until just short of alignment member 40. At this time the
stud 36 and more specifically the pointed end 38 is driven through
the earlobe and the end 38 is driven into retained relationship
with the clasp 68. No claim is made to the configuration of the
stud and clasp since these are of conventional design and those of
ordinary skill in the art are well aware of the manner in which the
stud guns of the prior art, as well as the studs and clasps or
backs, are used to pierce ears and affix studs or posts in the
manner just described.
Upon fulfillment of the piercing operation the user of the system,
and more specifically the stud gun 2, merely removes the components
26, 40 and 60 thereby readying the stud gun 2 for the next piercing
operation and discarding the unsterile components which may or may
not be contaminated from the prior user thereby obviating the
necessity to sterilize the entire stud gun 2.
The stud gun 2 may utilize an elastomeric O-ring adjacent the
enlarged head 14 so as to dampen the impact forces during the
piercing and setting operation. To that end, and so as to ensure
that the plunger 8 does not over shoot, the alignment member 40,
which ordinarily acts as an ear lobe positioner, will provide an
abutment stop to prevent trauma to the ear lobe.
While the description has been described with respect to specific
details and materials of construction, those of ordinary skill in
the art will at once recognize various changes and modifications
which may be made to the herein disclosed invention and all of
which will not depart from the essence of the invention and all
such changes and modifications are intended to be covered by the
appended claims.
* * * * *